La Voz de Seguin September 2011.pmd

La Voz
Volume 1 Number 5
A Bilingual Publication
September, 2011
de Guadalupe County
Free
Gratis
(512) 944-4123
www.lavoznewspapers.com
Inside This
Issue
People in
the News
Guest Editorial
by Joey Cardenas
Cultura Corner
The Plight of the
Miseducated
Sam Flores - In
his own words
Part # 2
TLU Faculty
Profile
Juan Rodriguez
Who is Doña
Josefa de
Dominguez?
An Interview with Dr. Stuart Dorsey
President of Texas Lutheran University
“Cita con Rosita”
Page 2
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
People in the News
The University of Texas at San
Antonio’s College of Public Policy
is hosting a reception Tuesday,
September 13th, 2011, at the Pearl
Brewery to welcome its new dean,
Rogelio Saenz. The reception is
from 5 to 7 p.m. at the American
Institute of Architecture of San
Antonio at the Pearl, 200 E.
Grayson St., Suite 110.
Anna Maria Chávez
Selected Chief
Executive Officer of
Girl Scouts USA
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA)
announced that Anna Maria
Chávez has been appointed to the
top post at the iconic organization.
Chávez’s appointment as the 19th
chief executive of Girl Scouts,
among the largest and most widely
recognized nonprofits in the country,
comes as the organization readies
to launch a national celebration as
part of its 100th anniversary
designed to honor its legacy and
create urgency around girls’ issues.
“G irl Scouts is the premier
leadership organization for girls with
a trailblazing legacy that stretches
nearly 100 years,” said Chávez,
who currently serves as chief
executive officer of Girl Scouts of
Southwest Texas. “The country
has never needed Girl Scouts more
than it does today. What girls are
accomplishing in Girl Scouting is
inspiring. I have seen it firsthand in
Texas, and I intend to tell that story
far and wide.”
C hávez grew up in a MexicanAmerican family in the small town
of Eloy, Arizona, and later in
Phoenix. She holds a law degree
from the University of Arizona
College of Law and a bachelor’s
degree in American history from
Yale University. Bar admissions
include the U.S. District Court for the
District of Arizona, Arizona
Supreme Court, and U.S. Supreme
Court. Her husband Robert is a
financial industry executive and they
have a son, Michael.
Dr. Victor Saenz
Addresses Seguin
Rotary Club
Sandra Tenorio
Elected Chair of
Tejano Democrats
Dr. Victor Saenz, Assistant
Professor at The University of
Texas at Austin, addressed the
Seguin Rotary Club on August
30th, 2011. His talk focused on the
new demographic reality of Texas
(and the US), and how the growing
US Latino population provides even
greater urgency to the issues facing
Latino males in education.
Longtime political activists, Sandra
Tenorio of Buda, Texas was
elected Chair of the state-wide
Tejano Democrats organization.
She is the first female to hold that
position in the organization’s history.
Dr. Saenz also highlighted the
important trends on educational
attainment for Latino males, and
why it’s important to focus on and
invest in the education of the Latino
population, as our future economic
prosperity is dependent on this
growing community.
A native of the Rio Grande Valley,
Dr. Saenz graduated from La Joya
High School in 1992, The
University of Texas at Austin in
1996 with a degree in mathematics,
the Lyndon B. Johnson School of
Public Affairs at UT in 1999 with a
Masters Degree and earned his
Ph.D. from UCLA in 2005 in higher
education.
Tenorio, who has also served as
mayor of Kyle, has been a Tejano
Democrat member since the
organization’s founding in 1993, and
has served as chair and vice chair
of the group’s Austin chapter. She
follows former State Sen. Gonzalo
Barrientos as chair of the statewide
organization.
Dr. Rogelio Saenz
Named New Dean
at UTSA
at the Municipal Auditorium in San
Antonio, Texas on September 10th,
2011. A native of Mercedes, Texas,
Reyna records with Freddie
Records out of Corpus Christi,
Texas. This year she won, Song of
the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year,
Entertainer of the Year and Album of
the Year.
Saenz, a sociologist and social
demographer, is originally from the
Rio Grande Valley town of
Mercedes. He earned his bachelors
degree in 1981 from Pan American
University, an Masters degree in
Sociology in 1986 from Iowa State
University and a Ph.D In sociology,
also from Iowa State in 1986.
B efore coming to UTSA this
summer, he had been a faculty
member at Texas A&M University
since 1986. Saenz replaces Dennis
Haynes, a professor of social work,
who was interim dean of the public
policy school since 2008.
Elida Reyna Wins at
the Tejano Music
Awards in SA
Long time Tejano singer Elida Reyna
took home a bunch of awards from
the30th Annual Tejano Music Awards
Celeste Villarreal
Elected to Post with
Hispanic National
Bar Association
C eleste Villarreal, an Austin
attorney,
was elected VicePresident of External Affairs for the
Hispanic
National
Bar
Association (HNBA) at their Annual
Convention in Dallas, Texas. The
HNBA is a national membership
organization whose mission is to
represent the interests of the more
than 100,000 Hispanic attorneys in
the United States.
V illarreal, who spent almost 25
years working in the media,
graduated from The University of
Texas at Austin in 1982 and earned
her law degree from Texas Tech
University in Lubbock, Texas in
2005. In addition to her private
practice she is also a part-time
Municipal Judge for the city of
Austin.
PRODUCTION
Editor & Publisher
Alfredo Santos c/s
Managing Editors
Yleana Santos
Kaitlyn Theiss
Marketing
Rose Mary Zuniga
Jo Ann Sutherland
Distribution
El Team
Contributing Writers
Yvonne de la Rosa
Franco Martinez
Richard G. Santos
PUBLISHER’S
STATEMENT
La Voz de Guadalupe
County is a monthly publication. The editorial and business address is P.O. Box
19457 Austin, Texas 78760.
The telephone number is
(512) 944-4123. The use, reproduction or distribution of
any or part of this publication
is strongly encouraged. But do
call and let us know what you
are using. Letters to the editor are most welcome.
Para cualquier
pregunta
llámenos
291-9060
944-4123
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
State LULAC Director Provides
Update on Redistricting Lawsuit
in San Antonio, Texas
The big enchilada is the best way to describe the
trial that is taking place in San Antonio, Texas.
Nothing but the best that Texas’ Latino community
is fighting a battle royal against the State of Texas
in the fight to redistrict Texas after the 2010 census.
From 2000 to 2010, Texas population grew from
20,581,763 to 25,373,947, an increase of 21.68%,
Whites increasing from 11,074,619 to 11,441,991,
an increase of 3.32 %, Blacks increasing from
2,421,693 to 2,925,751 an increase of 20.81%, and
Latinos (Hispanics) from 6,669,666 to 9,847,852,
an increase of 47.65%.
Page 3
Guest
Editorial
into the same area that accommodated 32
Congressional seats in the past.
The name of the game in reapportioning is redistricting. In states throughout the country, the
re-districting of Congressional districts includes
re-districting of most political electoral lines, from
Congressional districts, to state senatorial
districts, to state legislative districts, to school
board districts, to county precincts, to constable
districts, to city council districts.
One of the first lawsuit to make it to court was
From 2000 to 2010, Whites accounted for 7.67%
of the new population growth in Texas, while
minorities accounted for 92.33% in growth in Texas.
Latinos accounted for 66.32% of the total growth.
According to provisions in several sections of the
U.S. Constitution, census are to be taken every
10 years and based on the census, states are reapportioned Congressional seats based on the
population of each state. The number of
Congressional seats is fixed at 435. These 435
seats are re-apportioned based on the census count
every 10 years.
In this year’s census, Congressional seats were
re-apportioned, giving Texas 4 new congressional
seats, that is, 4 new Congressional districts, Florida
2, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina,
Utah and Washington, 1 each, Illinois, Iowa,
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri,
New jersey and Pennsylvania, each lost 1 and
New York and Ohio lost 2.
The United States Senate always stays at 2 US
Senators per state, but the Congressional seats,
while remaining fixed at 435, the number per state
is apportioned according to populations shifts in
each state. Well, Texas has the hard task of
reapportioning, reconfiguring, its 32 Congressional
districts it garnered in 2010 to 36, the new number
based on the 2010 census. In other words, Texas
remaining the same size physically, needs to redraw
its Congressional lines to fit 36 Congressional seats
the Teuber v. Texas case which was filed by
Republican Tea Party activists. Their argument
centered on the idea that any redistricting that
relied on illegal immigrants in the census count
should not be permitted, that is, should be barred.
The problem with this argument was who is the
illegal population in Texas? The other logical
argument was, how was it that Texas got 4 new
Congressional districts, where illegals were
included in the count and how was it that the
plaintiffs now wanted to not count them? The
Teuber lawsuit was non-suited, that is, dismissed
from the court docket.
Three other lawsuits were consolidated on July
6, 2011 by the federal district court judge assigned
to the case in San Antonio, Judge Orlando
Garcia, and are known respectively as the Perez
case, the Mexican American Legislative
Caucus, Texas House of Representatives
(MALC) case and the Texas Latino Redistricting
Task Force. The defendants in each case are
Rick Perry as Governor of Texas and other State
officials. The lawsuits are challenging Texas
redistricting that were drawn up by Republican
controlled committees and legislatures that drew
up Texas new Congressional districts in ways that
did not give minorities who accounted for the
major population gains in Texas and rewarded
their White political districts. The end result would
be Congressional seats and other political districts
in Texas that would not reward the minority
communities of Texas which is the growth
Joey Cardenas III
LULAC - State Director
machine for Texas’ population. Latinos
increased from 2000 to 2010 by 47.65%,
Blacks by 20.81% and Whites by 3.32% and
Whites become the gaining community in
Texas political redistricting.
National LULAC did not want Texas LULAC
to join in the Texas fight. National had a plan,
but weren’t telling anyone. The threat from
Luis Vera, LULAC’s acting National
President, actually legal advisor, to Texas
LULAC was to stay out of the redistricting
fight or face expulsion from LULAC. Texas
LULAC went around National LULAC and
joined up with the Texas Latino
Redistricting Task Force. National LULAC
has intervened as a third party plaintiff
(petitioner) in the Mexican American
Legislative Caucus.
The trial of the consolidated case started
in San Antonio on September 6th and the
cast before the court were among the most
respected people in Texas, including, Joe
Bernal, Alex Jimenez, Dr. Andres Tijerina,
Dr. Henry Flores, all who testified today as
well as some redistricting experts before the
3 Federal Judge Panel. The trial is expected
to last until September 16th.
Page 4
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
Yvonne De La Rosa
Teatro Program Coordinator
W elcome to the September edition of
“Cultura Corner.” The fall is an exciting month
as we celebrate some profound and defining
events. Can you name one or two?
The first event is the Hispanic Heritage
Month (September 15 – October 15) that is
celebrated to recognize the contributions that
Hispanic Americans have made to American
society and culture. In the spirit of Teatro’s
mission and goals, we celebrate the
contributions that Mexican-Americans have
made to our local, state and national
communities. This event also honors five of
the Central American neighbors who
celebrate their independence during the
month of September.
“In Search of the American Dream” is the story about four children and their adult
brother as they desperately race across Texas for survival. They are running because
their parents, undocumented for 30 years, were caught, arrested and thrown in jail in one
fell swoop. Deportation is only a matter of time. When CPS separates them, the children
are forced to abandon the only home they’ve ever known, leaving behind their friends,
their school, neighbors, sweethearts and their youngest brother, age 3, and their dog,
Frijol.
A routine traffic stop by a police officer goes terribly wrong and now they are not only
running from immigration officers but also from the law.
If forced, what would you do to keep your family together? Learn about the Martinez’s
and their heralding journey to deal with the issues that threaten to tear their family apart.
“In Search of the American Dream” will grip you and your family. Journey with the Martinez
family as they face a challenge beyond their worst fears. This movie will make you love
your family even more.
In the United States we see media coverage of huge “immigrant roundups” (raids) but
the story of what happens to children who are torn from their parents when the parents
are deported is rarely seen. Yet it happens every day in this country. The present law must
be enforced. The parents must go but the American-born children stay.
“In Search of the American Dream” tells the story of one family torn apart… and the
fear and agony the children are forced to bear alone.
“In Search of the American Dream” is currently in post-production and is slated to be
released in early 2012
National Hispanic Heritage Month had its
origins in 1968 when Congress passed Pub.
L. 90-498 (PDF, 153 KB), which authorized
and requested the President to issue an
annual proclamation designating the week
including September 15 and 16 as National
Hispanic Heritage Week. During that week
Hispanic American celebrated anniversaries
of independence for Latin American countries
such as Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua that
falls on September 15 th , Mexico’s
independence on September 16th, and Chile’s
on September 18th. The first proclamation
was issued by President Lyndon Johnson.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan
expanded the weeklong celebration to one
month. The month long celebration now
includes Columbus Day or Dia de la Raza,
which is October 12th.
At the National/International levels, we
celebrate: Ellen Ochoa-World’s First
Hispanic Female Astronaut, Frida KahloMexican Artist, Rita Moreno & Anthony
Quinn-Performers, Sandra Cisneros &
Octavio Paz-Writers, Cesar Chavez &
Dolores Huerta-Political Figures, Jaime
Escalante-Educator, Sonia Sotomayor-First
Hispanic U.S. Supreme Court Justice
At the local level, we celebrate the many
individuals who have consistently contributed
to making this community a better place to
live in. These individuals (the list is not a
complete list) have supported and made
valuable contributions to the educational
system as well as to the cultural arts. They
are: Dr. Irene Garza; Mary Martinez; Dr.
Maria Avalos; Sam Flores; Liz Campos;
Alphonso Rincón; Homer and Vickie De La
Rosa; Alejandro & Yolanda Guerra; Maria
G. Betancourt; Yomeida Guerra; Gloria
Reyna; Gilbert, Dolores & Michelle Avalos;
Nick & Velma Carrillo; Cresencio & Francis
Perez; Dr. Rachel Cruz; Johnny & Mary
Cruz; Rose Medrano; Steve & Esther
Boehm; Gilbert & Glenda Moreno; René
Moreno; Ricardo & Janie Guerra; Sam
Ramos; Stella Ozuna; Dr. Soledad Ramirez;
George and Isabel Cabello Start; Gloria,
Ellie and Janie Jimenez; Johnny, Maggie
& Ashley Gonzales; Robert & Dora Luna;
Mary Louise Ludt; Shaun Valdez; Jerry
Belmarez, … This is just to name a few! I will
continue the list in future articles.
In the spirit of celebration and recognition,
I invite you to visit Teatro’s GALERIA (Exhibit
Room). We have a Hispanic Heritage Month
display that includes photos, paper clippings
and other media of local Hispanics who have
contributed to the Mexican-American arts,
culture, traditions and education. The display
dates back to 1982.
The second event is the Diez y Seis de
Septiembre Celebration which is Mexico’s
Independence from Spain. Did you know that
in the early hours of September 16, 1810—
on the church steps in the town of Dolores
Hidalgo, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
rang the church bell to gather all the towns’
people? On that evening, he read the Grito
de Hidalgo. In the Grito he asked that
everyone rise up against the Spanish Crown
which launched the Mexican War of
Independence from Spain. The country
fought long and hard but did not achieve
independence until 1821. It is important to
remember that we celebrate the Diez y Seis
de Septiembre to commemorate the bravery
and perseverance of our ancestors, the fight
to preserve their cultural identity, and the will
of a community to stand up for an idea bigger
than themselves: Independence.
Page 5
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
THE PLIGHT OF THE MISEDUCATED:
IN SEARCH OF AN IDENTITY
I used to tell my students and now tell
audiences when the occasion arises, that U.
S. history is written and taught in black and
white images from the East Coast and east
of the Mississippi. This automatically means
that the anti-Spanish, anti-Mediterranean
Black Legend is subtlety taught to students
who do not know they are being brain washed.
W ithout them knowing, they are miseducated to believe that everything Spanish,
Mediterranean and Roman Catholic is inferior
to the White Anglo Saxon Protestant
(WASP) culture. The history text books reflect
this approach as all Spaniards are depicted
as blood thirty, gold hungry, murdering
Catholics who killed and/or enslaved the
Native American cultures.
The textbooks and WASP perspective on
history, never teach or discuss Spanish
legislation such as Las Nuevas Leyes of the
1540’s or the more important Recopilacion
de Leyes de Indias of the mid 1600’s, that
recognized the civil rights of the Native
Americans as citizens of the Spanish Empire.
O ther than listing and illustrating the
textbooks with photographs of the Franciscan
missions, the textbooks never discuss the
evangelization program of the Spanish
Catholic Church and the Religious Orders (ie.
Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits et. al.)
who through bilingual education assimilated
many Native American cultures to Spanish
North American society.
S imply put, at one point a Spanish
speaking Native American was baptized a
Catholic, given a Spanish name, and socially
transferred from being considered a
government protected neophyte to a Spanish
citizen. Once assimilated, the Spanish
speaking, Roman Catholic Native American
had all civil and religious rights within Spanish
society.
The socio-political-economic limitations
experienced by the assimilated Native
Americans were ruled by the Spanish caste
system. Both Spanish Church and State
identified 28 social castas with the Spanishborn citizen at top of the social structure. They
By Richard G. Santos
richardgsantos@yahoo.com
were called Gachupin. Spanish citizens born
on the Iberian peninsula (ie. Spain, Portugal,
Viscaya, Navarre, Provance, Galicia) were
called “peninsular”. These first two groups
represented the ruling class of the Spanish
Empire. They were the viceroys, generals,
admirals, archbishops, bishops and religious
missionaries who tried their best to enforce
Spanish law and policy.
They were the second class
citizens of the Spanish Empire
A person born in the New World of
European stock without Native American,
Asian or Black ancestry were called
espanoles or criollos. They were the second
class citizens of the Spanish Empire. As such
they were the military officers from colonel
down to alferez (lieutenants), vicars,
monsignors,
parish priests,
l o c a l
merchants,
cattle barons,
hacendados
(large property
owners) and
encomenderos
who were vast
p r o p e r t y
o w n e r s
charged with
the protection,
maintenance
and religious instruction of the Native
Americans
on
their
estates.
The founding families of townships and
communities of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila,
Tamaulipas and South Texas were
espanoles and criollos of SpanishPortuguese-Italian Sephardic Jewish,
Basque, as well as devout “Old Christians”
and converso “New Christians” ancestry. The
only exception were the 15 families (59
people) from the Canary Islands who
founded the Villa San Fernando de Bexar
(now San Antonio) in 1731. However, they
themselves were of Sephardic, Old Christian
and
New
Christian
background.
The children of a union of a
European and Native American
were the third class citizens.
The children of a union of a European and
Native American were the third class citizens.
Originally (1500’s to mid 1600s) if the father
was of European stock and the mother Native
American, the children were called
“castizos”. If the father was Native American
and the mother of European ancestry, then
the children were called “mestizo”.
By the late 1600’s the term and social
designation of castizo was dropped and all
children of such unions are commonly
referred to as mestizos. This was probably
brought about by the marriages of castizos
and mestizos which did not produce an
alternate social identification tag. This social
c a s t a
represented
t
h
e
majordomos,
c l e r k s ,
domestics,
ranch hands,
cattle hands,
farmers,
masons, and
local militia
members.
T he fourth
class casta
were the Native Americans divided into two
groups. First and foremost were the Spanishspeaking, Roman Catholic, “mission Indians”
and their land-owning descendants. They
represented the manual intensive labor force
of the Spanish American colonies.
The totally assimilated Native Americans
(such as the Tlaxcaltecans) were usually
referred to as “gente de razon” as they were
frequently employed as colonists in new areas
to serve as an example to the local Native
Americans of the benefits of becoming a
Spanish-speaking, Roman Catholic, landowning person who dressed and lived like
their mestizo and criollo neighbors. The 200
Tlaxcaltecans who founded San Esteban de
Tlaxcala opposite the river from Saltillo,
Coahuila in 1598 are a good example. Some
of their descendants were among the settlers
of the third founding of Monclova, Coahuila
in the 1680s and the original Villa de Bexar in
1716 - 1718 (now San Antonio, Texas).
Not all Native Americans went through the
missions. On October 12, 1837, Jose
Francisco Ruiz presented a Resolution to the
Senate of the Republic of Texas stating “the
people called Lipan (Apache), Karankawa
(Texas Gulf Coast) and Tonkowa (south
central Texas from Waco to Atascosa,
Wilson, Medina and Frio counties) your
committee considers part of the Mexican
Nation and are no longer to be distinguished
from that Nation. They occupy the western
part of Texas”.
I n 1837, “West Texas” began at the
Colorado River and extended to the Rio
Grande. Hence, the Native Americans family
clans of diverse tribes and nations not killed
by the recently arrived settlers from the United
States, were socially and legally declared
“Mexican” but not Mexican citizens. Many
eventually moved into the communities of
South Texas where in time they became part
of the Tejano and Mexican American
population.
It is unfortunate that the standard U. S. and
Texas history textbooks do not include any
of this historical information and insights as it
is very important to understanding the cultural
diversity of the Tejano and Mexican
American population of South Texas. Not
knowing any of this and brainwashed with the
WASP Black Legend version of U. S. and
Texas history, many reach out for a false
identity they consider more positive than their
cultural identity, or succumb to an inferiority
complex due to not knowing their respective
family background.
This article was first published in the Zavala
County Sentinel ………31 August – 1 September
2011
Page 6
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
An Interview with
La Voz: Welcome to Texas Dr.
Dorsey. Let’s start this interview
by sharing with our readers a little
of your early background. Tell us
if you would about your early
education, where you grew up
and what high school was like for
you.
Dr. Dorsey: I was born and
raised in Redfield, South
Dakota, pop. 3000. High school
in South Dakota in the 1960s
was pretty simple, and we had
much less to deal with than
today’s young people. I kept busy
playing football, basketball and
golf. I had teachers and coaches
that had a big impact on me. My
parents both were musicians, so
that also was a big part of my
early life.
La Voz: When you think back to
the time when you were getting
ready to graduate from high
school, what was going on in your
town? What were young people
thinking about, talking about?
As I was getting ready
to graduate in 1969 , the
biggest thing on our
minds was the war
in Vietnam
Dr. Dorsey: Things were pretty
quiet in Redfield; again a very
small town. There was not a lot
of opportunity to get into trouble.
No drugs or gangs. Everyone
knew everyone else, so you
couldn’t hide. As I was getting
ready to graduate in 1969 , the
biggest thing on our minds was
the war in Vietnam. All of us
expected to be drafted, and
would likely would be sent to
Southeast Asia. We all knew
older brothers or friends who died
there, so that hung heavy over
all of our heads during my time
in high school. Every generation
ha its own unique burdens to
carry- that was ours.
La Voz: How was it that you
chose to enroll at the University
of South Dakota?
Frankly, I never really
though of looking
anywhere else.
Dr. Dorsey: Frankly, I never
really though of looking anywhere
else. It was where my older sister
and brother went, plus, it had the
best school of business in the
state. College selection was very
different back then. Schools were
near capacity and there was not
the kind of extensive searching
that students and parents do
now. Almost all of my classmates
were first-generation college
students, and were just glad to
get in somewhere.
La Voz: After graduating from
college did you go to work or did
President of Texas
you head straight for graduate
school?
Dr. Dorsey: I went directly to
graduate school at Washington
University in St. Louis. I knew
what I wanted- to get a Ph.D. in
economics- so there was no
reason to delay starting my
career. I love St. Louis, and I had
a
great
experience
at
Washington U.
La Voz: Somewhere I read that
you worked for the U.S.
Department of Labor: What
was that experience like and
what was the most valuable
lesson you took away?
work for the U.S. Senate
Committee on Finance as staff
economist. That was an exciting
time for a young economist, as
the Finance Committee had
jurisdiction over federal tax policy
and all of the entitlement
programs. It was a privilege to
work for Senator Bob Dole, and
I stayed there three years.
Valuable lessons? I learned to
write well, write quickly and work
with
demanding,
highly
intelligent, but often difficult
people.
La Voz: What lessons did you
learn from your time at the
University of the Redlands
which will help you in guiding
Texas Lutheran University?
There is a steep
learning curve for a new
college president . . .
Dr. Dorsey: There is a steep
learning curve for a new college
president, so I’ve been able to
move much more quickly to be a
strong leader here at TLU
After teaching full time
for three years after
graduate school, I had an
opportunity to go to D.C
Dr. Dorsey: After teaching full
time for three years after
graduate school, I had an
opportunity to go to D.C. and do
full-time research on private
pensions. That was a valuable
time, but frankly, coming into
work everyday and grinding away
by myself was getting tedious. I
missed the students. Fortunately,
I had the unique opportunity to
“Things were pretty quiet in
Redfield; again a very small
town.”
“I loved pheasant dinners as a
child, and I would have to say
that it still is my favorite.”
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
Page 7
Dr. Suart Dorsey
Rich). As I get older, I like to listen
to quieter “smooth” Jazz. My kids
call it elevator music.
Lutheran University
because of my previous
experience. I have a sense of
confidence, tempered by
understanding about what works
and what does not on college
campus. I think I have a
particularly good grasp on the
economic challenges facing
higher education.
La Voz: What is the most
challenging aspect of developing
an endowment fund at a private
university?
Dr. Dorsey: Absolutely the key
challenge is articulating an
exciting vision for the university’s
future. Without that, there is no
reason for an individual to make
a financial commitment. You
have to give them an emotional
stake in bringing about
something
exciting
and
transformational. When you can
paint that picture, asking
someone for a seven-figure gift
is not difficult- it’s fun.
La Voz: While you have only
been here a short time, is it your
sense that the challenges of
getting Hispanics enrolled in
college, the same as they were
or are in California?
Hispanic students tend
not to think about small,
private colleges, and if
they do, they think that
they would not fit in to
the campus culture
“So we have to work harder at
getting Hispanic students to
consider us.”
Dr. Dorsey: I think they are
similar. We had good success in
California, but we had to work
harder. Hispanic students tend
not to think about small, private
colleges, and if they do, they think
that they would not fit in to the
campus culture. So we have to
work harder at getting Hispanic
students to consider us, but also
be mindful that the normal
adjustment process for a
freshman student may be that
much harder. But we are very
good at this.
TLU always had been about
opening doors of opportunity,
often for first-generation
students, welcoming students
from diverse backgrounds, and
working hard to give them the
tools to succeed. There is a
family approach here that
resonates well with Hispanic
students.
La Voz: Again, I know you have
only been here a short time, but
what would you say are the top
three things you will be focusing
your attention during your first
year here?
Dr. Dorsey: First, raising the
visibility and awareness of TLU.
Wonderful things happen here;
lives are transformed, and yet we
tend to be under the radar
screen. Fund-raising also will be
important, as we have important
investments to make into our
campus and programs. But most
importantly, all of us at TLU will
continue to focus on delivering a
great experience for our
students. Our primary goal
always must be to raise the value
of a TLU degree.
La Voz: Let’s conclude this
interview by asking you some
different kinds of questions.
What is your favorite food?
Redfield, S.D. is the
“Pheasant Capital of the
world,” so we all had a
freezer full of wild
pheasant.
Dr. Dorsey: Redfield, S.D. is the
“Pheasant Capital of the world,”
so we all had a freezer full of wild
pheasant. I loved pheasant
dinners as a child, and I would
have to say that it still is my
favorite.
La Voz: What kind of music do
you like to listen to?
Dr. Dorsey: Not very Texan I’m
afraid. My parents had a dance
band for years, so my taste runes
to swing (Frank Sinatra),
Dixieland (Pete Fountain), and
contemporary big band (Buddy
La Voz: Well, Dr. Dorsey, we
want to thank you for taking the
time to visit with us. We look
forward to working with you as
you take Texas Lutheran
University to the next level.
Dr. Dorsey. Thanks to La Voz for
having me, and good luck to you
and your readers.
ABOUT TLU
Texas Lutheran University
students
experience
a
challenging
academic
environment that sets a path for
lifelong learning. Our students
engage
in
high
impact
educational experiences that
include civic engagement,
aesthetic expression, critical
thinking, and a focus on
intercultural
and
global
knowledge in a community that
welcomes the interplay of faith
and reason.
Founded in 1891, Texas
Lutheran resides on 184 scenic
acres in Seguin, Texas, near San
Antonio and Austin. A diverse
student body of approximately
1,400 with classes averaging
fewer than 20 students provides
a sense of community and an
environment where individuality
and personal growth are as
integral to success as rigorous
academics.
Page # 8
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
Hispanic Community in Seguin
Celebrates 16th of September in 1944
I n 1994, Alphonso
Rincon was publishing a
newspaper called The
Casa Blanca Review. In
his September issue for
1994, he ran the photo on
your left of a 16th of September celebration in
Seguin that took place in
1944.
L ike many Mexican
American communities in
Texas, cultural celebrations have been taking
place for over a hundred
years. What is significant
about these celebrations
is that they served to remind a community that
there is a history rich in tradition that should not be
forgotten.
E n 1994, Alphonso
Rincon estaba publicando
un periodico llamada The
Casa Blanca Review. En
el ejemplar de septeimbre
de 1994, publicó el foto a
mano izquierda de un festival
del
16th
de
septiembre que se llevo
acabo en en Seguin en
1944.
C omo
muchas
comunidades Mexico
Americanas en Texas, La
Raza tiene más de cien
años celebrando su cultural y historia.
MR. G. Bail Bonds
24-HOUR SERVICE
ARMANDO (MANDO)
GONZALES
108 North River
Seguin, Texas 78155
(830) 303-2245 Office
(800) 445-0778 Office
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
Page # 9
Mickey y sus Carnalez
Saturday, October 8th, 2011
8:00pm to 11:00pm at the Dance Pavilion
Presented by Seguin LULAC Council 682
Tickets are $12 Pre-Sale $15 at the door Tickets available at JP’s Quik Stop & Bakery and the
Guadalupe County Fair Association office. Tickets are also availabe from any LULAC member
También Tocando:
Conjunto Romo
End of the Trail
Massage Therapy And Reflexology
Mrs. Judy A. Leath, LMT
200 N. River Street
1 hour - $50
Suite 100 F
Seguin, Texas 78155
½ hour - $30
Mon-Wed-Fri
By appointment only
Call and leave message
Tuesdays only
$8.00
Senior Hair Cuts 65 and older
Haircuts for Women, Men and
Children. Color, Perms, Etc.
(830) 305-3637
Tue-Fri 9-5 Sat: 9-4
(830) 372-1327 1650 N. Austin
Seguin, Texas
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
Page 10
Part 2
The following is part of an
autobiography that Mr.
Flores started to write a year
ago upon the invitation of Dr.
Ana Maria Gonzalez. The
work will be part of the
“Seguin Stories” project that
she has been leading at
Texas Lutheran University.
In His Own Words
One more
try at college
“I enrolled in the second
summer session again at
Southwest Texas Teachers
College. My father had
remarried and my brothers and
sisters were doing well. I started
to get more involved in the
church and soon had the position
of master of ceremonies.”
Sam and Velia on their wedding day December 20, 1953
the church. They returned the
following Sunday. After the
service I invited Velia to have
lunch with me. She agreed and
we went to a nice Mexican
Restaurant called Alex Café.
Se va casar Sam
She said she would have to
speak to her parents. A week
later she told me that her parents
had agreed so I made plans to
go and ask them in person for
permission to marry their
daughter.
Se casó Sam
During lunch we became more
“One Sunday I noticed my
sister, who lived in Seguin had
brought a new friend to church.
After the services were over, I
went over to talk to Francis and
she introduced me to her friend,
Velia Garcia. As it turned out,
they worked together at the
Palace Theater in Seguin.
Francis worked a ticket cashier
and Velia worked in the office as
a secretary. We spoke briefly
and then they left for lunch at a
local restaurant.
Before they left, I told Francis
to invite Velia to come again to
acquainted and I asked her if I
could see her again. She said yes
and I started going to Seguin to
see her. Most of the time we went
to the movies and then we would
go out for a snack or dinner. After
several times meeting with her
she said she wanted me to go to
her home and meet her parents.
I said I appreciated the invitation.
The following week I went to
her home and she introduced me
to her mother Elvira and her
father Bartolo. They welcomed
me and were very cordial. They
invited me to stay for dinner
which I did. There after we met
regularly and several months
later I asked her if she would be
my girlfriend. Again, she agreed
and several months after that I
asked her if she would marry me.
After a discussion to know me
better and what my plans were
for the future, they agreed to for
us to be married. We set the day
of our marriage on December 20,
1953. I was still a student in
college but several months
before our marriage I rented a
home in San Marcos. I bought
new furniture on credit. I had
everything ready for us to move
in after our marriage. We were
married at La Trinidad
Methodist Church in Seguin,
Texas with the Reverend
Eugenio Vidaurri officiating.
After the church wedding Phil
Medlin escorted us back to my
wifes’s house where we hosted
a small reception. I borrowed my
father’s car and Velia and I went
to Austin overnight for our
honeymoon.
We
returned the following
day and went to our
home which I had
rented. For the first
several month Velia
was at home as a
house wife and we
were barely making it.
We were living on the
small subsistence that
the government under
the GI Bill was
providing. She said
she needed to work to
help out and managed
to get a job in Seguin
at the dental office of
Freddie Sagabiel.
She commuted to
Seguin by Greyhound Bus and
return to San Marcos in the
afternoon.
On May 9th, 1955 I graduated
from Southwest Texas
Teacher College. I had earned
a bachelor’s degree in education
with a minor in art. I had
completed college in three years
going full time including all
summer sessions.
During the three years I had
only one failing course which
was a “D” that I made in
geography. Most of my grades
were C with some B’s, but not
one single A. My wife, her family
and I attended the graduation
exercise on campus. I was very
happy and looking forward to the
future and getting a teaching job.
I went to look for a job in
Seguin and filled out an
application. I was told to go to
the Juan Seguin Elementary
School which was fully
segregated from grades 1-6.
The school was called the
Mexican School. This is when
I found out that the Seguin
school district did not employ
Hispanic teachers for any of the
schools except Juan Seguin.
The principal told me there were
no vacancies. When I think about
now it makes me angry. But in
those days we just accepted
things like that.
Segregation
in Seguin
Back then segregation was
very pronounced. The city of
Seguin had a swimming pool for
the Hispanics which was next to
the Juan Seguin School. The
blacks had a swimming pool at
Ball High School and the Anglos
used Starck Park swimming
pool. In those days the
restaurants would not allow
blacks to eat inside. If you were
black, you had to go through the
kitchen and buy your food and
take it with you. What a disgrace!
Hispanics could eat in some of
the restaurants but others did not
serve Mexicans.
A Soldier
Stands Up
Vincent Patlan was a World
War II veteran who had been
wounded during the war and was
no push over. He was working as
a Seguin ISD truant officer when
one day he was denied service
in a restaurant. He made contact
with the American G.I. Forum
which was founded by Dr. Hector
P. Garcia from Corpus Christi,
Texas to help Hispanic veterans.
Mr. Patlan and the American
G.I. Forum raised hell about the
practice of discrimination in the
restaurants in Seguin. They also
began to call attention to the
segregation practices in housing
in Seguin. This was the
beginning of some of the social
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
Page 11
Sam Flores Recalls
change that was taking place.
The sentiment was if we were
good enough to go to war, we
were good enough to eat in a
restaurant in the United States
of America.
My Teaching Career
After I realized I was not going
to get a teaching job in Seguin, I
began to consider other cities. A
friend of mine named Rudy
Aguirre, who had been my
scoutmaster, encouraged me to
apply for a job in the Harlendale
Independent School District in
San Antonio, Texas. So I went
and met with the
superintendent,
Dillard Collum.
After my interview
he offered me a
position teaching
5 th grade at
Southcross
Junior
High
School.
teachers never visited their
homes. My starting teaching
salary was $2,805 for nine
months. (172 days) It wasn’t very
much money so I had to look for
a part time job. I found being a
ticket taker at Friday night football
games helped bring a little more
money.
One of My First
Teaching Challenges
At the beginning of my second
year we got a new principal. His
name was Howard “Bull”
Harris. He had been a high
school football coach. The state
of Texas had
passed some
new
laws
requiring public
schools
to
provide classes
and teachers for
s p e c i a l
education.
O ne day Mr.
I n August of
1955, my wife and I moved to
San Antonio where I rented a
house. I had a car that my in-laws
had given us. It was an older
Chevrolet but it ran well and was
in good condition. As a teacher,
I was assigned to teach a self
contained 5th grade class with an
enrollment of 45 students. The
only period I didn’t meet with
them was P.E. The rooms were
small and did not have aircondition.
The class was 95% Hispanic
and 5% Anglo. I taught all
subjects including music. I found
the students to be respectful and
very dedicated to their school
work. I made it a point to visit the
home of everyone of my
students. Parents were surprised
to see me and told me that
Harris called me
in and said I was his best teacher.
(We had eight fifth grade
classes.) He told me that he
wanted me to teach special
education classes. I said, “Mr.
Harris, I work and you tell me
what you want me to do.” He
assigned me to teach a class of
mentally retarded students and
here is where the controversy
began.
T he school was having a
declamation contest. I had a
student named Tomas who I
encouraged to compete. I
assigned Tomas to learn
verbatim the Gettysburg
Address. The contest was held
several weeks later. After the
judges finished their reviews,
they determined that Tomas had
taken first place. Several
teachers complained to Mr.
Harris and said that Tomas
shouldn’t get the first place trophy
because he was in special
education. Mr. Harris conceded.
When I found out that Tomas
was not going to get the trophy I
went to see Mr. Harris. I told him
that Tomas had competed fair
and square and that he should
not be denied just because he
was a special education student.
Mr. Harris saw that I was getting
assertive and demanding and he
agreed with me that Tomas
deserved that first place trophy. I
was learning that the fight for
justice is all around us.
Moving to Seguin
In 1956, my son Cesar was
born. We were still living in San
Antonio but the rents were very
high. So we decided to move to
Seguin and live with my in-laws.
I would commute every day from
Seguin to San Antonio. Little did
I know that I would do this for 35
years.
T he 1960s were filled with
many experiences and tragedies.
My sister Rebecca passed away
and left her two sons Robert, 15,
and Richard, 13, with my father.
My younger brother Daniel was
still in the service. In 1963, Cesar
started school. The schools in
Seguin were zoned and Cesar
was assigned to Juan Seguin
Elementary School, a Mexican
American segregated school.
This school was about 2 miles
away from the house. I never
thought much about schools
being segregated but I soon
realized that there was another
elementary school that was only
half a mile from the house. It was
Weinert Elementary School.
I went to see the
Superintendent,
A.J.
Briesemeister. I told Mr.
Bresemeister that I wanted to
get a transfer for Cesar so he
could go to Weinert. The
Superintendent said that it would
not be possible because
students had to attend the
schools in their zone. I thanked
him and left.
The Betrayal
Some weeks later, I found out
that some Anglo students in the
Juan Seguin School zone were
given transfers to other schools
in the district. I was very upset
and angry and went back to see
the Superintendent. When I
arrived
I
told
the
Superintendent’s secretary that I
needed to see him. She went to
his office and told him that I
wanted a letter stating why my
son could not attend Weinert
Elementary School.
He came out and wanted to
know why I wanted a letter. I told
him that I knew the district was
giving Anglo students transfers to
other schools. I told him it was
wrong and he was discriminating
against my son. I told him that I
was going to go to court and sue
the school district. He became
very alarmed and said he did
want any trouble. He told me to
give him some time to speak to
the school board members. I told
him to do what ever he needed
to do, but if my son was not
allowed to transfer, I would see
him in court.
Several days later, he called me
at work in San Antonio and
asked me to come by his office.
When I arrived he told me that
he had spoken to the board and
they agreed that my son could
attend Weinert Elementary
School. I said thank you and as
I was leaving, Mr. Bresemeister
said that he did not appreciate
that I had threatened him. I
responded by telling him that I did
not threaten him with bodily harm,
I threatened him because of the
district’s racist policies and that
was no threat. When he realized
that I was angry, he told me OK,
we do not want any trouble. I
replied, neither do I and left.
Ending the
Segregation in the
Seguin Schools
When the word got out that I
had managed to get a transfer for
Cesar, I got a call from Edward
Espinoza who was my wife’s
cousins husband. He said he
knew of my son’s transfer and
asked if he and five other parents
could come and talk to me. I said
sure. Edward was an Army
veteran from the Korean War. He
had been wounded and highly
decorated for valor en combat.
After the war he learned how
to fly a small airplane on the G.I.
Bill. The day Edward came over,
he brought four men and one
woman. I only remember the
names Vincent Medina and
Jose Gallegos. I explained how
I got Cesar’s transfer.
They then told me they had all
gone to see the Superintendent
as well but were denied transfers.
They asked me if I could help
them and be their spokesperson.
said yes. Two weeks later we
went before the Seguin school
board. Robert Koennecke, the
school board president asked
what we wanted.
To be continued in
the next issue of La Voz
de Guadalupe County.
Page # 12
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
Remembering
our Loved Ones
Please join us for a
Night of Remembrance
dedicated to the
memories of loved
ones, friends,
neighbors and military
personnel who have
gone on before us.
Tuesday,
September 13
6 p.m.
1116 N.
St.St.
1116
N.Austin
Austin
Seguin, Texas 78155
830-379-9430
911J5C
(830) 379-9430
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
Page # 13
Texas Lutheran University Faculty Profile
In the coming months, La Voz de
Guadalupe County will feature
in each issue a Texas Lutheran
University faculty profile. The
purpose of these profiles is to
better aquaint the community with
the university and its staff.
La Voz: How long have you been a
faculty member at Texas Lutheran
University?
Rodriguez: I am now in my 30th year
of service at TLU. Vine jovencito y
me voy bien arrugado.
La Voz: In addition to teaching
classes, I understand you are
involved with a group called MASA.
Tell us about your involvement with
this group.
Rodriguez: When I came to TLU, I,
along with some truly gifted and
dedicated
Raza
students,
organized the Mexican American
Student Association (MASA).
Since then and excepting two years,
I have served as MASA’s advisor.
La Voz: Are you involved with any
other campus based groups at
TLU?
Rodriguez: I am the founder and
advisor of another Mexican
American organization based at
CMAS. It is the Mexican American
Alumni and Friends Association
(the M double A F A), which seeks
to bring the Mexican American,
Latino, and other TLU alumni
together to address issues and to
explore cultural expressions directly
related to Mexican American and
Latino students on campus. The M
double A F A was founded over a
decade ago.
La Voz: Where were you teaching
before you came to Texas Lutheran
University?
Rodriguez: Well, after doing
doctoral studies at the University
of Iowa, I got my first, “real wages”,
Profe Juan Rodriguez
university
teaching position
at the University
of Arizona in
Tucson. After a
short stint there, I
took a position at
the University of
California at San
Diego (La Jolla),
and then I moved
on
to
the
University of
California at
Berkeley. After
teaching at the
University of
Washington (Seattle) for a short
time, I accepted a position at the
University of Texas at Austin
before coming to Texas Lutheran
College, as TLU was known back
then.
La Voz: Share with us, if you will,
aspects of your early upbringing?
Are you originally from Texas?
Rodriguez: Soy Tejano de
Linburgo, as we Chicanos call
Edinburg. I was born into a family
of Mexican peones. Lo digo con
orgullo. Though born in the Valley
of the Río Grande, I grew up in a
small town south of Lubbock,
where we dropped out of the cottonpicking migrant stream. I come from
a family of twelve. I am the only one
in my family to have graduated high
school or pursued a university
education. My brothers and sisters
did not finish their public schooling
not because they were intellectually
incapable of doing so, but because
poverty and Jim Crow were double
blows to the gut near impossible to
overcome.
La Voz: How did you go about
making the decision to go to
college?
Rodriguez: I don’t know. My
economic and social circumstances
Head, particularly.
Demanding
and
unrelenting,
she
taught me English and
its
grammar.
A
coscorrones, pero
aprendí, and I shall be
grateful to her until the
end. May she rest in
peace.
La Voz: How did the
idea of going to
graduate school come
about?
certainly didn’t warrant such a
decision. I can, however, say with
certainty that—early on in my
schooling, in the first grade,
perhaps—I found great joy in what
was then the mystery of words. Too,
for some odd reason, I loved the feel
of a pencil in my hand and the sense
of clean a brand-new Big Chief
tablet gave me when I attended the
first grade in a segregated school
in the Valley.
As to why I attended college many
years later, I suppose that having
been the valedictorian of my 8th and
12th grades, led me to believe that I
could do it . . . and should try. I’m
glad I did.
La Voz: Who were some of the
people who extended a hand to you
early
in
your
career?
Rodriguez: I am what I am because
of the “habits of the heart” my father
and mother, brothers and sisters,
instilled in me. I owe them the most.
In later years, I could not have
pursued post-graduate studies
without the many sacrifices my exwife and my children from that
marriage made for me. Along the
way, there were—as there must be
in such cases—teachers who cared
and encouraged: my junior high and
high school English teacher, Mrs.
Rodriguez: By the time I received
my B.A.,I knew in my heart and mind
that I could handle graduate studies.
Not only that, but by then, I was so
stricken with loving the challenge of
learning new things about the world.
El mundo era ancho y ajeno, I
learned, but it could be mine,
intellectually and spiritually.
La Voz: During the years you were
in college, were you involved in any
campus organizations?
Rodriguez: While I participated in
several student organizations, I am
most proud of those I founded or
co-founded. Among the latter are
Los Tertulianos at Texas Tech and
two at the University of Iowa: the
Chicano Native American Union
and the Graduate Student Union.
La Voz: Tell about the college
experience in your family. Where did
your children go to college and what
do they do today?
Rodriguez: My oldest daughter
attended Austin Community
College. She works with the federal
court district in Austin. Another
daughter attended the University of
Texas and works retail. Two of my
sons attended TLU; one is a
urologist in Galveston and the other
works for the IRS in Austin. My two
little girls from my second marriage
are in the 4 th and 2 nd grade,
respectively.
La Voz: Given that literature is your
field, what are some of the books
that you highly recommend?
Rodriguez: How much time do you
have? Cervantes’ El Quijote, of
course. Then there’s Cien años de
soledad (García Márquez), El llano
en llamas, de Juan Rulfo. You want
Chicano books? Try Miguel
Méndez’ Peregrinos de Aztlán, any
of Rolando Hinojosa’s short stories
or novels; Aristeo Brito’s El diablo
en Texas, etc. I could name works
from other countries and other
traditions including the US. There
are so many great books to read out
in the world.
La Voz: Let’s change up the
questions. Tell us:
Favorite quote: “Al cielo se sube a
pie”
Favorite food: Chinese
Favorite color: Blue
First car you ever owned: ’54
Chevy; first mode of transportation:
a bicycle and then a motorcycle
The thing on your bucket list that
you still want to do: Learn how to
fly a plane.
La Voz: Any last words?
Rodriguez:I want to encourage all
parents to send their children to
TLU. It’s a good place to send your
children to be taught not only
academically but spiritually as well.
Besides, it is your local university,
your local connection to higher
education . . . es tuya, and I am here
to welcome you on campus when
you come. Muchas gracias, Alfredo,
por la visita. You are doing a great
service for the Seguín and
Guadalupe County communities.
Page 14
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
Declaración del partido demócrata de
Texas sobre los primeros tres días del
juicio de la redistribución de los
distritos electorales
San Antonio- El juicio sobre la redistribución de distritos electorales ayer concluyó el tercer
de los nueve días asignados. Entre las conclusiones presentadas hasta ahora son:
· Evidencia que demuestra que ni los demócratas en la legislatura ni el público fueron
permitidos a dar sus opiniones sobre los mapas políticos creados por los republicanos.
· Testimonio de los expertos sobre la forma anormal del distrito 40 en la cámara de
representantes de Texas creado para el ex-demócrata Aaron Peña, cuyo nuevo distrito tiene
solo el 1.5 por ciento de su distrito actual. El testimonio de los expertos demostró que el
distrito 40 tuvo que haber sido creado para elegir un republicano en un área que es fuertemente
demócrata.
· Varios expertos presentaron evidencia del tipo de técnicas manipulativas usadas por parte
de los que crearon los mapas políticos para luchar contra los cambios demográficos. Mapas
sin el uso de estas técnicas manipulativas favorecerían a los demócratas y les darían más
poder político a las minorías.
Word Power
En Las Palabras
Hay Poder
No one can ever argue in the name of
education, that it is better to know less
than it is to know more. Being bilingual or trilingual or multilingual is about
being educated in the 21st century.
We look forward to bringing our readers various word lists in each issue of
La Voz de Guadalupe County.
Nadie puede averiguar en el nombre de la
educación que es mejor saber menos que
saber más. Siendo bilingüe o trilingüe es
parte de ser educado en el siglo 21.
Esperamos traer cada mes a nuestros
lectores de La Voz de Guadalupe County
una lista de palabras en español con sus
equivalentes en inglés.
¿Pero cuando?
But when?
Tu sabes
You know
Hoy a las 8 de la mañana comenzó el cuarto día del juicio con el primer testigo del estado
siendo la persona quien creó los mapas políticos en cuestión. (Él fue permitido testificar
fuera de orden por circunstancias especiales y los testigos para los demandantes seguirán
testificando a la conclusión del testimonio de este testigo.)
¿Deveras?
Really
Era tiempo
It was about time
Abajo está una declaración del Subdirector Ejecutivo del Partido Demócrata de Texas,
Anthony Gutiérrez, sobre el juicio en San Antonio hasta ahora:
¿Nos vamos?
Shall we go?
¿Quien te dijo?
Who told you?
¿Cuando te dijieron?
When did they tell you?
¿Porqué te dijieron?
Why did they tell you?
No te creas
Don’t believe it.
¿Quien vas a apoyar?
Who are you going to support?
¿Creas que puede ganar?
Do you believe he can win?
“Muchos expertos han presentado evidencia demostrando que estos mapas políticos fueron
creados para privar del derecho al voto a los Latinos y a otras minorías. También fueron
creados para predeterminar el resultado de suficientes elecciones para asegurar una mayoría
republicana para la próxima década. Estos mapas son una bofetada en la cara de los que
lucharon para que todos tuvieran derecho al voto.”
La Voz de Guadalupe County - September, 2011
Page 15
Who Was Doña Josefa de Dominguez:
and What Does She Have to Do
With the 16th of September?
Hispanic Heritage Month is
celebrated around the county from
September 15th to October 15th. As
Yvonne de la Rosa points out in
her column on page 4, President
Lyndon B. Johnson first declared
National Hispanic Heritage Week
in 1968. It was President Ronald
Reagan, who extended it to 30 days
and proclaimed National Hispanic
Heritage Month in 1988.
B ut Mexicans and Mexican
Americans have been celebrating
the 16th of September for a long
time. The photo on page eight
shows a group of Mexican
Americans in 1944 at a 16th of
September celebration in Seguin,
Texas.
But did you know that the 16th of
September is an historic l mistake?
El Grito de la independencia by
Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
was not suppose to happen on
September 16th, 1810!
¿Qué fue lo
que pasó?
At the end of the 18th Century,
many of the monarchies of Europe
began to see revolutions spreading
like wild fire. People were tired of
living under repressive regimes.
The idea of living under the rule of
king who told you when you could
speak, when you could work and
when you could sleep, was quickly
falling out of favor.
T he philosophers of the day,
Rousseau, Montesquieu, and
Voltaire, helped to fill the
atmosphere of change with ideas
of democracy, liberty and equality.
And it was their books that a small
“reading club” in Querétaro,
Mexico found most intriguing.
As the American Revolution
birthed the United States of
America, other countries knew it
was time to act. The French
mobilized and push the Royal
Court back to Paris. The republic
by Alfredo Rodriguez Santos c/s
was proclaimed in 1792 and King
Louis XVI was executed. The news
spread and people knew the time
had come to act.
All of these developments caught
the attention of a woman named
Doña Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez.
Doña Josefa was the wife of Miguel
Dominguez, the Magistrate of
Querétaro.
A Passion
for Justice
It was well known that Doña
Josefa was vehemently against the
abuse that the Spaniards– that is,
the European-born Spaniards –
exercised over the natives
considering and treating them as
second-class citizens. She always
identified with the native’s social
problems, for they were relegated
to secondary positions in public
administration as well as in the
military.
Throughout her life she fought for
the recognition of the Indigenous
people’s rights, in addition to using
her position as Chief Magistrate to
involve herself in numerous
charitable ventures.
“The Literary Club”
One of Doña Josefa’s ventures
included hosting a “literary society”
where people came together to
discuss literature and the works of
the Enlightenment which at the time
were banned by the Roman
Catholic Church. These meetings
were attended by many educated
people include a priest named
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla.
It was at Doña Josefa’s house
where these “literary meetings”
evolved into an underground
movement called the Querétaro
Conspiracy that was to produce the
armed struggle for independence
from Spain. To be sure, there were
others in Mexico making their own
plans.
The Querétaro Plan was to
gather weapons and supplies and
transport them for an uprising set
to begin on December 8th, 1810,
right before the celebrations for El
Dia de La Virgen de Guadalupe.
K nowing that time was short,
Father Hidalgo made the snap
decision to go to the church at
2:00am and ring the bell to call the
people to the church where he
would give his famous Grito de
Dolores and ignite the Mexican
War of Independence.
The Betrayal
was able to have her released.
Once Independence from the
Spanish rule was achieved, Agustin
Iturbide – who proclaimed himself
emperor – invited her to be part of
his court, but she refused the
appointment
because
she
considered that the Empire was
completely contrary to the ideals for
The struggle to free Mexico from
But Doña Josefa and her group
were betrayed by one of the
members of her group and when her
husband, El Corregidor de
Querétaro found out he was furious
that his wife would be involved in
such activities. After having her
locked in her room, he prepared to
round
up
the
would
be
revolutionaries, including Father
Miguel Hidalgo.
D oña Josefa managed to
smuggle a note out of her room with
the help of a maid. The note was for
Father Hidalgo warning him that
they had been discovered and that
the soldiers were coming for him. An
ally of Doña Josefa rode into the
night and it was he who delivered
the somber news to Father Hidalgo
in Dolores, Guanajuato telling him
what had happened.
the rule of Spain would take 11
years and cost many lives. Father
Hidalgo would not live to see
Mexico free, but his words, actions
and spirit live on today. And it is this
that many Mexican American
celebrate each 16th of September.
The Legacy
But it is the role of Doña Jose de
Dominguez that has not received
much attention. Thanks to La
Corregidora’s timely alert, many
conspirators were able to escape
before being arrested and jailed,
though she herself was the victim
of Captain Arias’ betrayal. She was
arrested and taken to Mexico City,
where a trial was held in which she
was convicted of treason. She was
jailed in various convents until
finally, in June of 1817, her husband
which the War of Independence had
been fought. Moreover, she refused
any reward for her services to the
insurrection.
D oña Josefa Ortiz de
Dominguez died on March 2, 1829
at the age of 61 in Mexico City. Her
remains were moved to the city of
Queretaro and deposited, along
with her husband’s, in the
Mausoleum of the Illustrious in
Queretaro.
Hispanic
Heritage Month
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
Thursday, September 15
Tuesday, October 4
“Fiesta en la Plaza”
Study Abroad in
Spain and Costa Rica
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. • Alumni Plaza
Come and join us for a special celebration with music, food and
dance. The event will feature the Son Jarocho Group “Son Armado”
with traditional music of the state of Veracruz and a performance by
Aztec dancers, plus food, drinks and festive colors. Free and open to
the public.
4:00 p.m. • Dunne Conference Center
Students who studied abroad this last summer will share their
experiences with wonderful stories and beautiful images. Come
and find out the opportunities TLU offers to study abroad.
Tuesday, September 20
Monday, October 10
Fiesta
Dr. Refugio Rochin
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. • ASC, Graf Lounge
10:00 a.m. • Chapel
Students come make crafts, hear great music, and enjoy free food!
Come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month fiesta style!
Thursday, September 22
Mexican Revolution Series on PBS
4:00 p.m. • Dunne Conference Center
Given that last year was the 100th anniversary of the Mexican
Revolution, the San Antonio station KLRN has created a new series
called “Children of the Revolution.” In it, they explain how the
Mexican Revolution had a direct impact on the San Antonio area.
It would be wonderful to relate a historical event of such magnitude
to your actual life and surroundings, don’t you think? Come and
learn about it.
Monday, September 26
Honduras Mission Trip
4:00 p.m. • Dunne Conference Center
For 25 years, a group of Seguin residents has been going to
Honduras to offer its voluntary work in public health and veterinary
services. This last May, eight students and a professor from TLU
joined their efforts and they will talk about their remarkable
experience in the Central American country. A reception with
traditional Honduran food and drinks will follow. Free and open
to the public.
Tuesday, October 11
Lecture by Dr. Refugio Rochin:
An Educational Journey
9:30 a.m. • Jackson Auditorium
Recently honored as one of the Peace Corps 1962–1964 alumni,
Dr. Refugio Rochin has been designated as one of “America’s Top
100 Influential Hispanics,” by Hispanic Business magazine. He
will speak about his own educational journey, the challenges he
has faced and will have advice for all students entering today’s
workforce.
Thursday, October 20
Ojalá Concert
7:30 p.m. • Jackson Auditorium
Ojalá is an Austin based band that mixes both Spanish and Arabic
in their songs. The music traditions of the South of Europe and the
North of Africa are clearly linked (Spain was under Muslim rule for
over 700 years). Therefore, instruments, voice register and rhythms
are shared. This group recovers that common background and
makes us aware of those ties. These ethnic rhythms will delight you
and enrich your sense of belonging to a global community.
Wednesday, September 28
Robert Rivard –
San Antonio Express News Editor
7:30 p.m. • Wupperman Little Theatre
“Mexico and its struggle to break from its past to find a new
future.” Veteran reporter and news editor Robert Rivard will relate
his experience as a journalist covering events in Mexico, and share
some reflections on the role of a free press, as Mexicans strive to
transcend a seemingly relentless cycle of violence. Robert Rivard
is the chairman of the Inter American Press Association (IAPA)
Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information and he is also
editor of the San Antonio Express News.
Events sponsored by:
Modern Languages Department,
Division of Student Life and Learning, and Student Activities